Ilaria La Preziosa
Rome, Italy
Artist Ilaria La Preziosa paints impressionistic animal portraits in oil, capturing the quiet emotion, personality, and presence of her subjects. "Animals have always been my most instinctive way of understanding emotion. Their silence, their honesty, and the stories in their eyes inspire me," says Ilaria. Based in Rome, she has been painting since childhood and found early on that art was where she felt most herself. Encouraged by a teacher who recognized her talent, she transformed her creativity into a lifelong pursuit. Her work combines careful observation with expressive brushwork, focusing on the light in an animal's eyes, the texture of fur, and the unspoken connection between subject and viewer. She creates from a small, lively studio filled with music, using a single Van Bleiswijck No. 18 angular brush for all her small works. Outside the studio, Ilaria enjoys visiting museums, traveling, spending time in nature, and photographing the streets of her city.
Artist Statement
My animal paintings are rooted in realism and shaped by emotion. I focus on intimate details: the light in the eyes, the softness of fur, and the quiet tension in a pose to create portraits that feel alive, as if the viewer were sharing a silent moment with the animal.
I paint with a single brush, a Van Bleiswick angular No.18, which allows me to move from broad strokes to fine details with a balance of control and spontaneity. My palette is natural, with orange as a recurring signature of warmth, while green and blue bring harmony and depth. Animals have always been my most instinctive way of understanding emotion. Their silence, their honesty, and the stories in their eyes inspire me, and I try to capture that quiet connection in every piece.
I've been painting since I was very young; after trying writing and guitar, painting became the place where I truly felt myself. My inspirations come from contemporary American animal artists, as well as the galleries and museums I visit, where colors and compositions continually enrich my practice. I've always believed that work should be driven by passion, and I've always seen myself as an artist with many projects ahead. I don't know if I will always paint animals, but I know I will always be painting, letting my work grow through new exhibitions, new ideas, and visions that carry it beyond the canvas.
I paint with a single brush, a Van Bleiswick angular No.18, which allows me to move from broad strokes to fine details with a balance of control and spontaneity. My palette is natural, with orange as a recurring signature of warmth, while green and blue bring harmony and depth. Animals have always been my most instinctive way of understanding emotion. Their silence, their honesty, and the stories in their eyes inspire me, and I try to capture that quiet connection in every piece.
I've been painting since I was very young; after trying writing and guitar, painting became the place where I truly felt myself. My inspirations come from contemporary American animal artists, as well as the galleries and museums I visit, where colors and compositions continually enrich my practice. I've always believed that work should be driven by passion, and I've always seen myself as an artist with many projects ahead. I don't know if I will always paint animals, but I know I will always be painting, letting my work grow through new exhibitions, new ideas, and visions that carry it beyond the canvas.
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